Suit of the Week: Semantiks Mélange Suit
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We really like this black and white combo suit from Semantiks, available at Nordstrom. The piping on the jacket is interesting without being distracting, and the cut of the suit is feminine without being frou-frou. The Semantiks Mélange Jacket is $138, and the Semantiks ‘Moonlit' Mélange Trousers are $88. There's a coordinating Semantiks ‘Moonlit' Mélange Pencil Skirt, also, priced at $68.
Sales of note for 6/20/25:
- Nordstrom – Get an extra 25% off clearance styles through 6/22. Designer clearance up to 60% off
- Ann Taylor – 50% off everything plus free shipping
- Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 1000+ new women's markdowns
- Eloquii – Semi-annual clearance, up to 80% off
- J.Crew – Big Summer Event: Up to 50% off almost everything (ends 6/23) + extra 50% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Free shipping today (6/20) only. Up to 60% off + extra 20% off orders $100+
- M.M.LaFleur – 4 Days Only: The Warehouse Sale — up to 70% off — “a sale so good it's tacky.” Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Rothy's – Semi-annual event, up to 50% off seasonal faves
- Spanx – End of season sale
- Talbots – Sale on sale, 30% off all markdowns + extra 20% off
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
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I’m finishing up my graduate degree and just starting to learn more about proper corporate attire. Thank you so much for this incredibly educational blog!
I was wondering about suiting materials. My friends have advised me to avoid polyester and other synthetic materials, saying that they look “cheap”. Personally, I can’t tell the difference, but apparently the discerning eyes at prestigious companies *can* tell the difference. Yet, I notice that a lot of the suits you feature are made of viscose/ polyester/ etc, including the one above.
Can most peers and higher ups in Corporate America really tell the difference? And if so, how much does it matter to them?
I definitely trend toward wool and away from synthetics for suits. When I was first starting out (four or five years ago), I had no problem with a suit from Ann Taylor that was made of synthetics, but over time I realized that they wear poorly and do look cheaper than suits made of natural fabrics. As you become more successful and make more money, I think it makes sense to invest in suits that don’t contain syntethics – plus you’ll get your mnoey’s worth, because you can keep and wear them much longer.
i find that synthetic blends don’t clean (as in dry cleaning) as well as natural fibers.
nordstrom has another private label – classique entier, that has a higher price point and nicer fabrication.
It’s true that synthetic fabrics often wear more quickly than wool. But for me, synthetics are the way to go because they are more comfortable, and I find that since my weight fluctuates and styles change, I don’t really want to keep a suit forever anyway. Many of my clothes are a wool/synthetic mix, which gives them a more flattering drape for my figure. Keep in mind that simple black clothes rarely look cheap; for other colors the quality of the fabric is more noticeable.
I think as a junior person, the color, fit and accessories you choose are much more important than whether your clothes are made of synthetics. If your office is business casual, check out the book “Casual Power” which talks about creating a professional image even if you don’t wear a suit.
Classiques Entier is definitely worth the investment. I have a suit from ’96 and still wear the jacket with jeans and receive compliments – it’s a fitted navy with a zipper and I love it. Bought another in ’99 and decided to retire it last year but I miss wearing it – gray, with hooks and eyes, but it’s time has passed. Also have suits by Talora that have lasted for years, and one was actually found on sale at Nordstrom.